The Porsche-Fighting Chevy Monza

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the IMSA GT series offered what I think was some of the best sportscar racing of all time. Not only was the competition fierce, but the cars were unforgettable. We’re talking giant fender flares, huge spoilers, ear-shattering exhaust notes and some of the biggest wheel lips ever seen on race cars.

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One of the most well known cars from this series was the flame-spitting turbocharged Porsche 935 – a car which quickly achieved legendary status across the world. But here in the USA, one of Porsche’s primary competitors was a car that came from much more humble roots.

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I’m taking about the Chevrolet DeKon Monza, an example of which can be seen taking to the track at the Rolex Historics every year with its distinct red Budweiser livery.

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This particular car was purchased brand new by Chris Cord in 1977 before undergoing a complete transformation into a highly-competitive racer which saw IMSA action throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s.

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In stock form the Monza was an affordable and somewhat sporty car, but after getting the DeKon Engineering transformation it was a completely different animal. The car’s factory lines can still be seen, but like the Porsche 935 that’s only when you look past the massively wide bodywork and fenders.

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Inside the engine bay sits a Chevy small block V8 positioned well back in the chassis and topped with mechanical fuel injection. Output is an impressive 550 horsepower and the whole car only weighs 2,300lbs.

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The engine is mated to a Ford Toploader transmission and the rear end is a stout Ford 9-inch. As for the brakes, they’re Girling discs of the same type used on the Porsche 917.

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Not only is the DeKon Monza aggressive looking, this particular example is also sporting some cool hot rod touches, like a hand-formed aluminum dash panel with a built-in stop watch and door handles borrowed from a Ferrari Dino.

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When it came to shorter sprint races the Monza was highly competitive against its Porsche rivals, but in the longer events like Sebring and Daytona it often experienced mechanical trouble which limited its finishing position.

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Fortunately, the short format of today’s historic racing plays right into the DeKon Monza’s strengths, and watching this V8 monster battle it out with cars like Bruce Canepa’s Porsche 935 is one of the highlights of the Rolex Historics every year.

Long may the excitement of IMSA’s golden era live on.

Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia_media
mike@speedhunters.com

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1

We used to have a DeKon Monza that was imported and raced by Allan Moffatt over here in Australia in 1976. I remember seeing it racing as a teenager at Sandown. Left everything in its wake

2

I'm a fan of the DeKon Monza... one made it's way to NZ also in the hands of Red Dawson (chassis 1001 from memory) and battled the Moffat Monza tedidesign mentions. I think the Dawson car ended up in Aussie too. But these and the Greenwood Corvettes, such fantastic examples of the "American way" to do things vs the European trends.

3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0w33CRP0DI

This is a great video of a Monza driven by Peter Brock against a 935 driven by Alan Jones..
These cars were so quick back in the day!

4

For second I thought it's a Manta.

5

960 Me to.

6
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner

Yes! Some proper Aussie sports sedan action. People need to realize that back in the 70's and 80's, in Australia this was the pinnacle, top of the tree racing series.
Even the Group C/Group A cars could only wish to get as many fans as these cars did.
It's such a pitty nowadays that Sports sedans/IMSA style cars are more a forgotten thing now that series like Supercars or NASCAR have pretty much taken over mainstream TV rights.

7
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner

Yes! Some proper Aussie sports sedan action. People need to realize that back in the 70's and 80's, in Australia this was the pinnacle, top of the tree racing series.
Even the Group C/Group A cars could only wish to get as many fans as these cars did.
It's such a pitty nowadays that Sports sedans/IMSA style cars are more a forgotten thing now that series like Supercars or NASCAR have pretty much taken over mainstream TV rights.

8
Chris 'Haffy' Hafner

Yes! Some proper Aussie sports sedan action. People need to realize that back in the 70's and 80's, in Australia this was the pinnacle, top of the tree racing series.
Even the Group C/Group A cars could only wish to get as many fans as these cars did.
It's such a pitty nowadays that Sports sedans/IMSA style cars are more a forgotten thing now that series like Supercars or NASCAR have pretty much taken over mainstream TV rights.

9

IMSA and Can-Am. Swoon.

10

Chris 'Haffy' Hafner
Ironically Horst Kwech of Dekon was an Aussie. He raced Alfa's in the early years of Trans Am where he met Allan Moffat. The two went on to race together in later years. Moffat's Monza, that he bought to Australia was designed by Kwech..

11

960 That can be expected because the Manta B design was based on the Monza. It then proved to be very  popular in Europe and even lead to Manta/Monza front end conversions for other cars and was the basis for the Mad Max Falcon.

12

the_escape_road Love how they are so different yet so similar in performance.

13

SnoozinRichy tedidesign Yep, I should have also done a spotlight on the Greenwood that Bruce Canepa was trying to chase down!

14

tedidesign How many of today's race cars make for memories like that? Not enough.

15

I saw this beast at Lime Rock a few years ago. This car, 935s and the Sebring Corvette all on-track at Lime Rock at once. It was AMAZING.

16

I saw this beast at Lime Rock a few years ago. This car, 935s and the Sebring Corvette all on-track at Lime Rock at once. It was AMAZING.

17

Mike Garrett tedidesign back then I was 15 years old, and used to go to every meeting at Sandown as it was only a couple of train stops away from home. You could get into the pits for free, and see and touch everything, no barriers and fancy merchandising or staged driver appearances. Great times

18

holy crap thats a terrible looking car

19

holy crap thats a terrible looking car

20

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